Shulgin Seminar Session 7: Discoveries of 1970s & 1980s: Systematization of the Psychedelic Field

The Shulgin Seminar explores the history of psychedelic discoveries in the 1970s and 1980s, emphasizing the development of the field's underlying systematization and theoretical framework. A central theme is the methodology of scientific discovery, particularly reflecting on the process of 'learning through doing' and the interplay between the chemist, the substance, and the experience. Participants analyze the ethical and philosophical implications of substance discovery, including the role of the investigator as both scientist and subject. The discussion touches on the inherent messiness of research, the influence of subjective experience on scientific outcomes, and the broader societal and ethical obligations related to the exploration and application of psychedelic states.